Chapter 91 – Being led by Women / Penvazhichcheral
Couplets / kuratpaakal
Couplet 901
Who give their soul to love of wife acquire not nobler gain;
Who give their soul to strenuous deeds such meaner joys disdain.
Explanation
Those who lust after their wives will not attain the excellence of virtue; and it is just this that is not desired by those who are bent on acquiring wealth.
Transliteration
Manaivizhaivaar Maanpayan Eydhaar Vinaivizhaiyaar
Ventaap Porulum Adhu.
Couplet 902
Who gives himself to love of wife, careless of noble name
His wealth will clothe him with o’erwhelming shame.
Explanation
The wealth of him who, regardless (of his manliness), devotes himself to his wife’s feminine nature will cause great shame (to ali men) and to himself;.
Transliteration
Penaadhu Penvizhaivaan Aakkam Periyadhor
Naanaaka Naanuth Tharum.
Couplet 903
Who to his wife submits, his strange, unmanly mood
Will daily bring him shame among the good.
Explanation
The frailty that stoops to a wife will always make (her husband) feel ashamed among the good.
Transliteration
Illaalkan Thaazhndha Iyalpinmai Egngnaandrum
Nallaarul Naanuth Tharum.
Couplet 904
No glory crowns e’en manly actions wrought
By him who dreads his wife, nor gives the other world a thought.
Explanation
The undertaking of one, who fears his wife and is therefore destitute of (bliss), will never be applauded.
Transliteration
Manaiyaalai Anjum Marumaiyi Laalan
Vinaiyaanmai Veereydha Lindru.
Couplet 905
Who quakes before his wife will ever tremble too,
Good deeds to men of good deserts to do.
Explanation
He that fears his wife will always be afraid of doing good deeds (even) to the good.
Transliteration
Illaalai Anjuvaan Anjumar Regngnaandrum
Nallaarkku Nalla Seyal.
Couplet 906
Though, like the demi-gods, in bliss they dwell secure from harm,
Those have no dignity who fear the housewife’s slender arm.
Explanation
They that fear the bamboo-like shoulders of their wives will be destitute of manliness though they may flourish like the Gods.
Transliteration
Imaiyaarin Vaazhinum Paatilare Illaal
Amaiyaardhol Anju Pavar.
Couplet 907
The dignity of modest womanhood excels
His manliness, obedient to a woman’s law who dwells.
Explanation
Even shame faced womanhood is more to be esteemed than the shameless manhood that performs.
Transliteration
Penneval Seydhozhukum Aanmaiyin Naanutaip
Penne Perumai Utaiththu.
Couplet 908
Who to the will of her with beauteous brow their lives conform,
Aid not their friends in need, nor acts of charity perform.
Explanation
Those who yield to the wishes of their wives will neither relieve the wants of (their) friends nor perform virtuous deeds.
Transliteration
Nattaar Kuraimutiyaar Nandraatraar Nannudhalaal
Pettaangu Ozhuku Pavar.
Couplet 909
No virtuous deed, no seemly wealth, no pleasure, rests
With them who live obedient to their wives’ behests.
Explanation
From those who obey the commands of their wives are to be expected neither deeds of virtue, nor those of wealth nor (even) those of pleasure.
Transliteration
Aravinaiyum Aandra Porulum Piravinaiyum
Peneval Seyvaarkan Il.
Couplet 910
Where pleasures of the mind, that dwell in realms of thought, abound,
Folly, that springs from overweening woman’s love, is never found.
Explanation
The foolishness that results from devotion to a wife will never be found in those who possess a reflecting mind and a prosperity (flowing) therefrom.
Transliteration
Enserndha Nenjath Thitanutaiyaarkku Egngnaandrum
Penserndhaam Pedhaimai Il.
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